Good grief. That's the best way...
Good grief. That's the best way to describe the impact of
24's latest stroke of ruthlessness: killing off schlubby tech-nerd hero Edgar Stiles (
Louis Lombardi) Monday night, amid an orgy of death in the steely corridors of CTU. After a nerve-gas canister was unleashed, only those who were able to duck for cover in sealed-off rooms survived (including, naturally, most of the core cast).
As his closest colleague, Chloe, watched, face contorted in a rictus of horror, Edgar slid out of sight behind a desk, drawing his last breath. He will be missed. Which is the point.
24 got off to a rip-roaring start this season, with the shocking assassination of former president David Palmer followed almost immediately by the car bombing of former CTU heroine Michelle, which wounded her husband, Tony, who only just gained consciousness before this latest terrible twist.
No rest for the heroic on this show, unless, of course, it's an eternal rest.
Edgar's death came as a crowning tragedy capping a terrific two-hour combo episode, which also featured the return of Kim Bauer (shrug), as well as First Lady Martha Logan (yay) reaching out to stalwart Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce after realizing the depths of her husband's weakness.
But my favorite moment was when Jack shot JoBeth Williams in the leg to try to force her husband (Peter Weller) to spill the beans. That was nasty, all right. But Jack shouted in a quasi-defense that made me laugh out loud: "I shot her above the kneecap! She can still walk!!"
Well, then. That makes it all right.
You gotta love a show in which the president announces, "The country's already suffered three devastating attacks today," and you realize the day's not even half over.
By the way, check out this executive suite: an incompetent and petulant president who constantly shifts blame to others, and a hawkish vice president willing to run roughshod over Congress to declare martial law. Where do these writers get their ideas?
But back to Edgar. Louis Lombardi invested this gruff stooge with such deep reserves of loyalty, integrity and humanity (staying at his post while his mother died) that you couldn't help but love him. I always enjoyed his Mutt & Jeff rapport with the grouchy Chloe — they were great comic relief when things got too tense at CTU. It's like we all lost a big, sweet brother.
No time to mourn, though. The clock is still ticking, and we're anxious to see what crisis looms next. What makes the suspense of 24 so delicious is that, amid the high body count, there are always going to be a few casualties that matter. Edgar, join the club.
